A quick survey of the stalwarts braving the icy weather at the Vigil showed that virtually all those who have any resources are sending money home to support their families – a considerable sacrifice. We believe this is true of the diaspora as a whole. So the bank liquidity problems in Zimbabwe are of anxious interest.

The Vigil was not reassured by comments by Welshman Ncube that the cabinet was ‘seized with’ the issue. ‘We spent well over two hours discussing it,’ he said (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/feb11a_2012.html#Z1 – Cabinet tackles liquidity crisis). Given that Mugabe alone can speak for more than two hours while asleep that didn’t impress us. Not that the ministers appear to have any answers since they are unlikely to accept the analysis of the devastated Zimbabwean economy submitted to an EU delegation visiting Bulawayo (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/feb8_2012.html#Z23).

What gave us thought about Ncube’s comment was the use of thephrase ‘seized with’ .It has been pointed out to us that when this was last in general use in the UK a hundred or so years ago it meant ‘dealing with’. We fear Ncube has picked the phrase up from his relative President Zuma who for the past few years is said to have been ‘seized with’ the issue of Zimbabwe. Not much ‘dealing with’ there . . .

It struck us, however, that the word ‘seized’ is singularly appropriate for Zimbabwe. Seizing seems to be what we are good at: seizing the farms, seizing the diamonds, seizing government revenue, seizing the national heritage, seizing the money itself. Well, we think the only seizure that would improve life for Zimbabweans would be a seizure of power from the rapacious gangsters in charge.

Other points·Representatives from the Jubilee debt campaign came and spoke to us about their demand for a debt audit in Zimbabwe to establish where the money went. They left us information material which will be available on the front table.·Stella and Ellen of the Zimbabwe Association (ZA) came to invite Vigil supporters to a screening of a new film:‘Robert Mugabe . . . What Happened?’ on Tuesday 21st February from 2 – 5 pm. There will be a question and answer session with the director after the screening. For more details see Events and Notices section. Stella also spoke about ZA’s plans to hold a community day in May with sports and a talent show.·We are pleased that our supporter Patrick Chatakuta was not sent home on Tuesday 7th February but he is still in detention and his solicitors are working to get him released.·After our first Zimbabwe Action Forum last week, Vigil founder member Ephraim Tapa was interviewed for SW Radio Africa’s Diaspora Diaries on 7th February about how the diaspora can get involved in Zimbabwe’s democratic transition. To listen to the interview, check:http://www.2bctnd.net/swra_wp/?p=13494.·The Vigil has written a letter to the Home Office to clarify the latest situation regarding our sister organization Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe. To read the letter, check: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/vigil-news/campaign-news/367-vigil-letter-to-the-home-office-re-rohr-clarification.·A cheerful group of students dropped by and asked us to write a few words for a book ‘written by Britain’. Here was our entry ‘Britain gives people the freedom to be the voice of the voiceless unlike Zimbabwe’. For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website.

FOR THE RECORD: 52 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:·New film ‘Robert Mugabe . . . What Happened?’ on Tuesday 21st February from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HG. Please reply to:
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or leave a message on 020 7739 8226.·Second Free Zimbabwe Global Protest organized by the MDC diaspora to put pressure on South Africa to do something about Zimbabwe. Tuesday 21st February from 12 noon to 4.30 pm. Meet at the Zimbabwe Embassy at 12 noon. Protesters will move to the South African High Commission at 2 pm. For more information contact Tonderai Samanyanga 07917 742 022. ·Zimbabwe Action Forum. Saturday 3rd March from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.·Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2011 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/363-vigil-highlights-2011-. Links to previous years’ highlights are listed on 2011 Highlights page.·The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.·ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News. ·The Zim Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani) has launched its theme song ‘Vigil Yedu (our Vigil)’ to raise awareness through music. To download this single, visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the video check: http://ourvigil.notlong.com. To watch other Zim Vigil band protest songs, check: http://Shungurudza.notlong.com and http://blooddiamonds.notlong.com.·Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.·Vigil Myspace page:http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil.

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